Hello,
So my name is Daniel I just set up an account on here but have been viewing the sight (and other sites) for a week or two while I made my choice to purchase chickens again. This site has seemed the most helpfull in my research so thats why im here.
So about me. Im a 24 years old and have not had chickens since i was little. back then i had a bunch of mixed whatever chickens. Lol I loved them dearly though and had to let them go because i could not feed and maintain the 40+ chickens. Well now I just ordered (from Ideal poultry) silkie chickens. They should be here around the 30th of the month. I had 2 black silkies before and they where two of my favorite chickens. One would steal the chicks from under my other hens to raise though. I thought it was so funny seeing two chickens sitting on the same nest (the silkie for just two days) and splitting the chicks.
Anyway random memory aside, this time i want to do things in a more adult manner. For one I know now more chickens does not always mean better. I plan on keeping 3-5 out of the 9 i ordered. I ordered the 9 so that hopefully I can get the traits and genders I am looking for. I want to have at least 3 hens with beard and muffs as well as possibly a roo of nice quality so that I can breed if needed or wanted later. As for the extras i will probably give them away to some people I know. I may try eating one as I have found that they are quite different form other chickens when concerning the meat aswell.
That brings me to the next point in my introduction. This is just the first step in my master plan involving chickens lol. I plan on useing the silkies as mothers for another breed/breeds I plan on raising for eggs and meat. This will be a year or two down the line though as i will be building a house and moveing during this time. Less chickens are easier to move and my current space is limited so the 3-5 silkies will be plenty until then. They will be spoiled rotten pets lol. In the ead I plan on having the silkies in a separate coop and run attached to the production coop and run. On the production side I plan on keeping 10-15 chickes for egg and meat production. Not sure on the breeds yet but im looking at orpingtons, black australorps, and speckled sussex. Maybe a combination of two.
Anyway im sure I will have lots of questions for you all as time gets closer to when i get the chicks. But if you have any advice or experance that you think may be helpful to me id be glad to hear it. Either about silkies, keeping a small number of chickens, raising a small number of chicks from day old chicks, coops, food, or anything usefully lol.
Thank you all and I look forward to getting to know some of you and the community.
So my name is Daniel I just set up an account on here but have been viewing the sight (and other sites) for a week or two while I made my choice to purchase chickens again. This site has seemed the most helpfull in my research so thats why im here.
So about me. Im a 24 years old and have not had chickens since i was little. back then i had a bunch of mixed whatever chickens. Lol I loved them dearly though and had to let them go because i could not feed and maintain the 40+ chickens. Well now I just ordered (from Ideal poultry) silkie chickens. They should be here around the 30th of the month. I had 2 black silkies before and they where two of my favorite chickens. One would steal the chicks from under my other hens to raise though. I thought it was so funny seeing two chickens sitting on the same nest (the silkie for just two days) and splitting the chicks.
Anyway random memory aside, this time i want to do things in a more adult manner. For one I know now more chickens does not always mean better. I plan on keeping 3-5 out of the 9 i ordered. I ordered the 9 so that hopefully I can get the traits and genders I am looking for. I want to have at least 3 hens with beard and muffs as well as possibly a roo of nice quality so that I can breed if needed or wanted later. As for the extras i will probably give them away to some people I know. I may try eating one as I have found that they are quite different form other chickens when concerning the meat aswell.
That brings me to the next point in my introduction. This is just the first step in my master plan involving chickens lol. I plan on useing the silkies as mothers for another breed/breeds I plan on raising for eggs and meat. This will be a year or two down the line though as i will be building a house and moveing during this time. Less chickens are easier to move and my current space is limited so the 3-5 silkies will be plenty until then. They will be spoiled rotten pets lol. In the ead I plan on having the silkies in a separate coop and run attached to the production coop and run. On the production side I plan on keeping 10-15 chickes for egg and meat production. Not sure on the breeds yet but im looking at orpingtons, black australorps, and speckled sussex. Maybe a combination of two.
Anyway im sure I will have lots of questions for you all as time gets closer to when i get the chicks. But if you have any advice or experance that you think may be helpful to me id be glad to hear it. Either about silkies, keeping a small number of chickens, raising a small number of chicks from day old chicks, coops, food, or anything usefully lol.
Thank you all and I look forward to getting to know some of you and the community.
and Welcome To BYC! If I am reading correctly a 4x4 coop and 4x8 run should be OK for 3-5 silkies unless they are giants (silkies do vary quite a bit in size and most hatchery birds are a lot bigger than your average bantam) especially if you take care to keep them entertained. Be sure to check out the tractor section in the Coops for ideas 
